Smoke tree

ABSTRACT

A smokehouse meat rack which readily disassembles including a vertically hanging support rod and a plurality of horizontally positioned stations each of which are coupled to the rod by a pair of vertical pins carried on the stations which releasibly engage a pair of corresponding sleeve members on the rod.

United States Patent Drowatzky [4 1 Oct. 10, 1972 [s41 SMOKE TREE 639,549 12/1899 P16 61616; ..211/111 3,011,650 12/1961 Engelhornetal. ..211/117 [72] ggg w zgx zgf gg Park 3,129,820 4/1964 Stulman ..211/117 1 3,468,428 9/1969 Reibold ..248/221 x [22] Filed: Jan. 4, 1971 Primary Examiner-Ramon S. Britts [21] Appl' 1635516 Attorney-Miller & Brown [52] US. Cl. ..21 1/117, 17/442, 99/261 ABSTRACT 511 1m. 01. ..A22 15/00, A47f 5/08, A47f 5/10 A Smokehouse meat rack which readily disassembles 0i 2117, 118, 86, 113, 119, including a rod and a pl 211/107. 9/261, 443 R; rality of horizontally positioned stations each of which 17/442, -h 48/224, 221, 17, are coupled to the rod by a pair of vertical pins car- 223 ried on the stations which releasibly engage a pair of corresponding sleeve members on the rod. 6 R f C'ted [5 e erences 1 9 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS 4 149,821 4/ l 874 Williams "85/5 CP l] 271 b2! L I I J u [P /4 I A 'I PATENTEDUBT 10 I972 v 3 696, 939

INVENTOR. KARL B. DROWA 7' 2% Y 5 I NiQwgfi ATTORNEY SMOKE TREE The invention relates to smokehouse meat racks which are used for hanging various types of meats when they are being cured or dried by smoke. The racks or trees are usually transported from place to place by hanging them from a trolley on an overhead rail. The racks have various shaped stations and spacing between the stations depending upon the meat being carried. When not in use, they require a considerable amount of storage space unless they can be disassembled.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The smoke trees currently used in the trade have fixed stations and do not readily disassemble. Their stations are held in place on the support rod by a set screw which bears against the rod. While the set screw could be loosened and the stations removed from the rod, this takes time. As these trees wear with use, the set screws work loose causing a station when loaded with hams for example, to slide down the rod or fall to the floor. This type of joint is also particularly weak as to twisting of the stations on the shaft. Meat inspection now requires that the smoke trees be cleaned after each use. Because of its large and awkward shape, the fixed trees must be hand cleaned with a steam jet and wire brush.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a smoke tree with a coupling on the support rod which allows the stations to be quickly disassembled when not in use. The cleaning process is also shortened since the individual stations can be dipped in a caustic cleaning solution. The

coupling is a very strong joint with no danger of the station slipping on the rod. To remove the stations from the support rod or stem, they are lifted vertically and rotated 90. Each support rod has a plurality of coupling fittings spaced along its length so that any particular spacing between stations can be achieved. If, for example, bacon is being hung rather than sausages, the same smoke tree can be used merely by changing the spacing of the stations. When the trees are not in use the stations and rods can be stacked in a very small area.

It is therefore the principal object of the present invention to provide a smokehouse tree with readily removable stations which is simple in construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel high strength coupling between the stations and the upright support.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention which is designed for simplicity, economy and efficiency in use. These will become more apparent from the following description.

For a better understanding of the invention and its details, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the coupling between the meat supporting stations and the support, with portions of the station broken away;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the entire smokehouse tree and its associated trolley;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a station in position for removal from the stem;

FIG. 4 is a top view of a modified form of the invention utilized with offal chilling pans; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings for a detailed description of the invention and more specifically to FIG. 2, the improved smokehouse tree is generally identified by reference numeral 10. The tree comprises a vertical support rod or stem 12 carrying a plurality of horizontally disposed stations 14. The upper end of the stem 12 is supported on a hook 16 which is in turn part of a trolley hanger 15. The hanger 15 is provided with wheels 17 which run on rail 18.

The station frames 14 are centrally supported on the stem 12 by a coupling 20. The lower half of the coupling comprises a pair of sleeve members 21 anchored to opposite sides of a third sleeve member 22. The third or center sleeve is welded to the stem 12. The three sleeves can be a welded construction or a casting. The center sleeve 22 could actually be replaced by some other structure which would maintain the pair of sleeves 21 integrally attached to the stem 12. The upper half of the coupling 20 includes a pair of pins 24 welded to cross members 25. The pins 24 extend downward from the station frame 14 for reception in sleeves 21. The end of the pins 24 are slightly tapered, as seen in FIG. 5, to assist in engaging the sleeves 21. The station cross members 25 join the two elongated hanging members 26 making up the station 14. The notches 27 in the hanger members 26 support the meat hooks for the individual pieces of meat.

While FIGS. 1 to 3 only show an open end type station, various types could be used such as a closed end station, and an offal hanging rack. The latter mentioned rack resembles an upsidedown tree from an end view with the stations progressing in width from the bottom upward.

The coupling 20 can also be used, as shown in FIG. 4, with a pair of support rods 12A connected to the ends of the stations rather than a single rod in the center. Two pins 24A would be welded to each end of the station frame 14A.

OPERATION As can be seen in FIG. 2, there are seven station locations on the support rod 12. With the stations 14 positioned at every other location, a certain spacing between stations can be obtained for hams. Depending upon the size of the meat being hung, the spacing can be varied to accommodate the meat.

After the tree 10 comes out of the smokehouse and the meat has been removed, the tree is disassembled for cleaning. This is accomplished by lifting each station upward until the pins 24 clear the sleeves 21 and then rotating the station to the FIG. 3 position. As clearly indicated, the stations 14 will now clear the coupling sleeves 21 for removal from the stem 12. The individual stations 14 are dipped in a cleaning solution along with the stems l2 and then reassembled or stored. When the stations are fully loaded with meat, the accumulated weight on each station 14 is substantial. Since the sleeve members 21 and 22 are welded to the stem 12, there is no way the station can fall from the tree without the pins 24 first being lifted upward to disengage the sleeves 21. Due to the spacing between each pin 24, the stress due to rotation of the load on the coupling 20 is substantially reduced over the prior art methods.

The coupling is not limited to use on a single stem tree, as illustrated in FIG. 4. Also, the positioning of the sleeves 21 with reference to sleeve 22 do not have to be in direct alignment as in the drawing. For example, in FIG. 4 the sleeves 21 would not have to be located on opposite sides of sleeve 22, but rather in a contacting triangular arrangement.

Having described the invention with sufficient clarity to enable those familiar with the art to construct and use it, I claim:

1. A smokehouse tree carried on an overhead trolley for supporting various types of cured meats comprising:

at least one upright support rod having means at its upper end for attachment to the trolley; a plurality of horizontally positioned station means releasibly mounted on the support rod; and

coupling means releasibly supporting each station on the support rod including at least two sleeve members anchored to the sides of the support rod at each station location, the sleeves being axially aligned with the rod and in side-by-side spaced apart relation to each other, at least two pin members anchored to each station means extending downwardly therefrom normal from the plane of the station means, said pins being in parallel sideby-side relation spaced apart a distance for receipt in said sleeve members whereby the sleeve members support any vertical load transmitted by the station means and allow immediate uncoupling by upward movement of the station means on the support rod.

2. A smokehouse tree as set forth in claim 1, wherein the coupling means includes three sleeve members joined together in side-by-side relation with their longitudinal axis being parallel and lying in a single plane, the center sleeve surrounding the supporting rod and anchored thereto.

3. A smokehouse tree as set forth in claim 1, wherein the coupling means includes three sleeve members joined together in side-by-side relation with their longitudinal axis being parallel and lying in a single plane,

the center sleeve surrounding the supporting rod and anchored thereto; and the inside diameter of the sleeve members being substantially the same as the outside diameter of the pin members whereby the pins will be snugly engaged by the sleeve members.

4. A smokehouse tree as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sleeve members of the coupling means are located on opposite sides of the support rod spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the diameter of said support rod.

5. A smokehouse tree as set forth in claim 1, wherein the coupling means includes three sleeve members joined together in side-by-side relation with their longitudinal axis being parallel and lying in a single plane, the center sleeve surrounding the supporting rod and anchored thereto; and the pin members are tapered toward their free ends to allow for easier engagement with the sleeve members.

6. A smokehouse tree as set forth in claim 1, wherein a single support rod is utilized and two pin members are anchored to a pair of individual cross members centrally positioned on the station means; between the cross members is provided an open space for insertion an rm alofthes rtin r 9. siii okehouse t i e ia as S t fi rth in claim 1, including two support rods and a pair of pin members attached at each end of the station means.

8. A smokehouse tree as set forth in claim 1, wherein the coupling means includes three sleeve members joined together in abutting relation with their longitudinal axis being parallel and lying in a single plane, the center sleeve surrounding the supporting rod and anchored thereto, and the pin members having a tapered end.

9. A smokehouse tree as set forth in claim I, including two support rods, one located at each end of the station means and the coupling means includes three sleeve members joined together in side-by-side relation with their longitudinal axis being parallel and lying in a single plane, the center sleeve surrounding the supporting rod and anchored thereto. 

1. A smokehouse tree carried on an overhead trolley for supporting various types of cured meats comprising: aT least one upright support rod having means at its upper end for attachment to the trolley; a plurality of horizontally positioned station means releasibly mounted on the support rod; and coupling means releasibly supporting each station on the support rod including at least two sleeve members anchored to the sides of the support rod at each station location, the sleeves being axially aligned with the rod and in side-by-side spaced apart relation to each other, at least two pin members anchored to each station means extending downwardly therefrom normal from the plane of the station means, said pins being in parallel side-by-side relation spaced apart a distance for receipt in said sleeve members whereby the sleeve members support any vertical load transmitted by the station means and allow immediate uncoupling by upward movement of the station means on the support rod.
 2. A smokehouse tree as set forth in claim 1, wherein the coupling means includes three sleeve members joined together in side-by-side relation with their longitudinal axis being parallel and lying in a single plane, the center sleeve surrounding the supporting rod and anchored thereto.
 3. A smokehouse tree as set forth in claim 1, wherein the coupling means includes three sleeve members joined together in side-by-side relation with their longitudinal axis being parallel and lying in a single plane, the center sleeve surrounding the supporting rod and anchored thereto; and the inside diameter of the sleeve members being substantially the same as the outside diameter of the pin members whereby the pins will be snugly engaged by the sleeve members.
 4. A smokehouse tree as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sleeve members of the coupling means are located on opposite sides of the support rod spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the diameter of said support rod.
 5. A smokehouse tree as set forth in claim 1, wherein the coupling means includes three sleeve members joined together in side-by-side relation with their longitudinal axis being parallel and lying in a single plane, the center sleeve surrounding the supporting rod and anchored thereto; and the pin members are tapered toward their free ends to allow for easier engagement with the sleeve members.
 6. A smokehouse tree as set forth in claim 1, wherein a single support rod is utilized and two pin members are anchored to a pair of individual cross members centrally positioned on the station means; between the cross members is provided an open space for insertion and removal of the supporting rod.
 7. A smokehouse tree as set forth in claim 1, including two support rods and a pair of pin members attached at each end of the station means.
 8. A smokehouse tree as set forth in claim 1, wherein the coupling means includes three sleeve members joined together in abutting relation with their longitudinal axis being parallel and lying in a single plane, the center sleeve surrounding the supporting rod and anchored thereto, and the pin members having a tapered end.
 9. A smokehouse tree as set forth in claim 1, including two support rods, one located at each end of the station means and the coupling means includes three sleeve members joined together in side-by-side relation with their longitudinal axis being parallel and lying in a single plane, the center sleeve surrounding the supporting rod and anchored thereto. 